Mihailo Petrović Alas
(1868–1943)
Mathematician, one of the founders of the Serbian modern mathematical school, university professor, inventor, academician, writer, philosopher, ichthyologist, traveler, musician, and passionate fisherman— Alas, after the grayling fish, which earned him his nickname—in a word, a Homo universalis.
Early life and Education
Born on May 6, 1868, in Belgrade, into an esteemed family, as the eldest of five children. His father was a professor at the Theological Seminary, and his mother Milica was the daughter of priest Novica Lazarević, a protoresbyter at the Cathedral Church of the Holy Archangel Michael in Belgrade. His father died young, so his grandfather Novica took over the care of Mihailo and his education.
He began his education in his native Belgrade, where he attended the First Belgrade Gymnasium. Among his schoolmates were several who would grow into Serbia’s intellectual elite, including distinguished figures such as geographer Jovan Cvijić, historian and politician Jaša Prodanović, and journalist and founder of Politika, Vladislav Ribnikar. After completing gymnasium, he built upon his innate talent for natural sciences at the Natural Sciences and Mathematics Department of the Great School in Belgrade, where he graduated. He continued his studies in Paris, at the Sorbonne. He graduated in 1891, and three years later, on June 21, 1894, he defended his doctoral thesis before a committee composed of the most distinguished mathematicians in the world at the time—Charles Hermite, Émile Picard, and Paul Painlevé—earning the title of Docteur ès sciences mathématiques (Doctor of Mathematical Sciences). His doctoral dissertation, “On the Zeros and Infinities of Integrals of Algebraic Differential Equations,” brought him great recognition in scientific circles. The defense was also attended by Milutin Garašanin, envoy of the Kingdom of Serbia.
The House of Mika Alas
at 22 Kosančićev Venac
Thesis of
Mihajlo Petrović Alas
defended in Paris in 1894
Academic and Pedagogical Career
Upon returning to Serbia, he was appointed professor of mathematics as the Great School by decree of King Aleksandar Obrenović (1894).
From the founding of the University of Belgrade in 1905 until his retirement in 1938, he taught theoretical mathematics at the Faculty of Philosophy. He served as vice dean and dean at the same faculty. As an exceptional speaker of French, he lectured with ease at universities in Paris and Brussels as well.
He was known for his innovative approach to teaching and for nurturing a generation of outstanding mathematicians. His school produced Tadija Pejović, Radivoje Kašanin, Jovan Karamata, and Miloš Radojčić. He devoted his entire career to teaching and research. As a scientist, he held the view that university education could reach its heights only through science. He used to say that he was drawn to truth, but also to the mystery that leads to truth…
He collaborated with leading mathematicians worldwide. In his prolific scientific career, he published over 400 papers and 12 scientific books across various branches of mathematics. His works were also published in international scientific journals. He published three university textbooks: Calculus with Numerical Ranges (1932), Elliptic Functions (1937), and Integration of Differential Equations by Means of Series (1938). He also published the textbook Leçons sur les spectres mathématiques (Paris, 1928), which he used for his lectures at the Sorbonne in 1927/28. In addition to mathematics, he studied hydrodynamics, applied mathematics, and cryptography, and his research found applications in various fields of science and technology. He also founded the mathematical journal Publications de l’Institut Mathématique Université de Belgrade in 1932, in which papers were published in English, Russian, French, and German.
Mihajlo Petrović Alas is credited with creating new scientific disciplines—mathematical phenomenology and the theory of mathematical spectra. He presented his work at numerous international scientific conferences, and his name became known throughout Europe. He was elected honorary doctor at the academies of Bucharest, Prague, Warsaw, and Kraków.
From Theory to Practice: Inventions
His technical prowess gave rise to many applications in mechanics, physics, chemistry, and astronomy, as well as some important patents. Based on the bibliography of his works and archival documents from the Patent Offices in France and Great Britain, we learn that Mihajlo Petrović patented ten inventions. He received patents for nine in France and one in Great Britain. Some of his most significant inventions found application worldwide: a rangefinder for ground artillery, gear transmission construction, a model for efficient minefield avoidance, a perpetual calendar, a reciprocating piston engine model, and others. He designed a depth gauge, a device for rapid determination of fire elements for aircraft targeting, and a device for rapid ejection and launching of projectiles. He also invented the hydrointegrator, the first analog hydraulic computer, with which he won the gold medal at the World’s Fair in Paris in 1900.
Hydrointegrator
In Service to His Country
He participated in the Balkan Wars and World War I as an officer, and after the war served as a reserve officer. During World War I in 1917, he created a new encryption device that was used by the Serbian army and diplomacy. After the war, he improved it and named it “Three Cards.” This new encryption system was also used during World War II when Nazi Germany occupied our country. In 1941, at the age of 73, he put on the uniform of a lieutenant colonel. He was captured and taken to a German camp. According to some accounts, he was released thanks to the intervention of Prince Đorđe Karađorđević, who advocated for this through his aunt Jelena of Savoy, wife of the Italian King Emanuel, and several German mathematicians; according to others, he was released due to his old age and illness.
Formulas on the River and in the Fishing Net
It’s impossible to discern whether he harbored greater passion for mathematics or fishing. He himself once stated that had he not been a university professor, he would have been a fisherman. From early childhood, he spent much time on the Danube and Sava rivers, where he shared his life with the common grayling. In 1882, he became a fishing apprentice, in 1888 a journeyman, and in 1895 he passed the exam for fishing master and earned the right to establish his own fishing guild. He had his own apprentices and journeymen and introduced new methods for river fishing using laptas—enormous nets. His record catch came in 1912—he caught a catfish weighing 120 kilograms. His faithful companion in fishing adventures was Prince Đorđe, for whom he had been a private tutor and later an advisor.
Their inseparable friendship on the river was cemented. He participated in drafting the first Law on Freshwater Fishing in the lakes and rivers of Serbia in 1898. In 1900, he took part in negotiations for concluding a fishing convention with Romania, and in negotiations with Austria-Hungary on the protection of fishing on the Sava, Danube, and Drina rivers. At the international exhibition in Turin in 1911, he received a gold medal for his displayed fishing exhibits. He also participated in the founding of the first Yugoslav Oceanographic Institute in Split. He published several professional papers on fishing. Using his knowledge of mathematics, he was the first person in the Balkans to combine mathematics and fishing to develop a statistical method aimed at calculating the possibilities for sustainable use of fish resources. He was particularly fascinated by eels and their way of life.
Adventurer, Travel Writer, and Musician
As a member of international scientific expeditions, he participated in explorations of the North and South Polar regions, and described his travel experiences, supported by historical data, in his travelogues and newspaper accounts. He spent time in the Svalbard Islands, Greenland, Iceland, Newfoundland, and Labrador. In the Antarctic, he studied methods for mitigating iceberg hazards. He reached the Sargasso Sea, the Caribbean Islands, the Antilles, and Bermuda. He was one of the few Europeans to visit Napoleon’s grave on Saint Helena. He lived among the Eskimos. He sailed through the Suez Canal.
The Serbian Literary Cooperative published his books: Through the Polar Region (1932), In the Realm of Pirates (1935), With the Ocean Fishermen (1935), Across Remote Islands (1936), and The Romance of the Eel (1940).
His remarkable talent also manifested itself through music. He taught himself the violin from tavern musicians and entertained people in cafés and French bistros. In January 1896, he founded the amateur ensemble “Suze.” His repertoire included over 700 melodies, primarily folk and old urban songs.
Emblems of Reputation
He was only 29 years old when he became a corresponding member of the Serbian Royal Academy, and two years later, in 1899, he became a full member.
Through his membership in many foreign academies and prestigious scientific societies (the Society of Italian Mathematicians in Palermo, the Society of German Mathematicians in Leipzig, and the Shevchenko Scientific Society in Lviv), as well as numerous awards and honors, Mihailo Petrović Alas earned confirmation of his exceptional reputation.
For his work, he received the highest recognition from students and colleagues. He was awarded an honorary doctorate from the University of Belgrade in 1939. The proposal to the Council of the Faculty of Philosophy stated: “M. Petrović is creating a School of Mathematics, the first in Yugoslavia, and through his creative efforts is elevating the teaching of mathematics at the University of Belgrade to the level of modern world-class institutions. Our Faculty, University, State, and this entire country are obliged to give the highest recognition to Mihailo Petrović.” At the same time, members of the Mathematical Seminar proposed that a section be designated for theoretical mathematics and named the Mihailo Petrović Institute for Theoretical Mathematics. The proposers emphasized the following: “Our Mathematical Seminar owes him lasting gratitude, because he founded it, worked in it, and developed it for a full 44 years. There he gathered around himself a large number of young people and prepared them for scholarly work.”
He was awarded the following recognitions and honors: Order of Saint Sava, 5th Class (1896), Order of Saint Sava, 4th Class (1899), Medal of Miloš the Great (1900), Order of Saint Sava, 3rd Class (1903), Order of the Crown of Romania, 3rd Degree (1903), Order of Saint Sava, 2nd Class (1904), Order of the White Eagle, 2nd Class (1927), Order of Saint Sava, 1st Class (1939), honorary diploma from the London Mathematical Society, and honorary president of the Yugoslav Union of Mathematics Students.
Into Eternal Sleep Carried by Fishermen
D. S. Mitrinović
This rich academic, social, and unconventional life came to an end on June 8, 1943. Mihailo Petrović Alas passed away in his home at 22 Kosančićev Venac, in occupied Belgrade. Fishermen carried his coffin to the Cathedral Church. At the funeral, eulogies were delivered by Bishop Venjamin and the distinguished figure of Serbian science, Milutin Milanković.
Petrović’s contemporaries testified that he was honest, honorable, and above all an exceptionally modest man.
He made an immeasurable contribution to science, thereby enabling progress for all humanity.
References
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Dragoslav S. Mitrinović, „Život Mihaila Petrovića“. Mihailo Petrović: čovek, filozof, matematičar, tom 38, Beograd: Zavod za izdavanje udžbenika SRS, 1968.
Dragan Trifunović, Bard srpske matematike Mihailo Petrović Alas, Beograd: Zavoda za udžbenike i nastavna sredstva, 1991.
Slobodanka Peković, Mihailo Petrović alas, Metafore i alegorije, Beograd: Zavod za udžbenike i nastavna sredstva, 1997, str. 206–213.
Marija Vranić-Ignjačević i Dragana Stolić, Mihailo Petrović Alas: 1868–1943: katalog izložbe, Beograd: Univerzitetska biblioteka „Svetozar Marković“, 2003.
Mihailo Petrović Alas: rodonačelnik srpske matematičke škole, tom 143, Beograd: SANU, 2018.
Михаило Петровић Алас: живот, дело, време: поводом 150 година од рођења, Београд: САНУ, 2019.
Mihailo Petrović Alas: život, delo, vreme: povodom 150 godina od rođenja, Beograd: SANU, 2019.
Selected Bibliography
Mihailo Petrović’s bibliography numbers several hundred works, particularly in the fields of differential equations, analysis, algebra, and mathematical spectra. This selection is merely an illustration of the areas and interests that Mihailo Petrović pursued, and those in which he left his mark.
The first bibliographies of his works were published as early as the late 19th century, and one of the most interesting bibliographic surveys is Notice sur les travaux scientifiques de M. Michel Petrovitch: (1894–1921), published in Paris in 1922, which M. Petrović himself compiled, adding analysis of the results alongside the listing; the preface for this publication was written by Milutin Milanković. The most complete bibliography was compiled by Dragan Trifunović, the foremost authority on the life and work of Mihailo Petrović.
A more complete overview of publications held in the University Library collection is available in the exhibition catalog Mihailo Petrović Alas: 1868–1943 (Marija Vranić-Ignjačević, Dragana Besara), Belgrade 2003 (electronic version http://arhiva.unilib.rs/unilib/o_nama/izdanja/2003/alas.pdf)
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Sur les intégrales uniformes des équations du premier ordre et du genre zero / M. Petrowitch.– Paris : Gauthier-Villars, 1894.
P. o.: Comptes rendus hebdomadaires des séances de l’Académie des sciences ; 28 mai 1894.
BM3 26
Sur les zéros et les infinis des intégrales des équations différentielles algébriques : thèses présentées a la Faculté de Sciences de Paris pour obtenir le grade de docteur ès sciences mathématiques / par Michel Petrowitch. – Paris : Gauthier-Villars et fils, 1894. – 109 str. : graf. prikazi ; 28 cm
R1 1231
O asimtotnim vrednostima integrala diferencijalnih jednačina prvoga reda / od Mihaila Petrovića. – U Beogradu : Štampano u štampariji Kraljevine Srbije, 1895. – 43 str. ; 23 cm. – (Glas / Srpska kraljevska akademija ; 50)
PB 399
Sommation des séries à l›aide des intégrales définies / par M. Petrovitch. – Paris : Académie des sciences, 1895. – 4 str. ; 28 cm
BM3 10
Sur une équation différentielle su premier ordre / Michel Petrovitch. // Comptes rendus hebdomadaires des séances de l’Académie des sciences. T. 122, 22 (1896), str. 1261–1263.
Č3 45
Sur une classe d’équations différentielles du premier ordre : Extrait des mémoires de la Société royale des sciences de Bohême / par M. Michel Petrovitch. – Prag : Société royale des sciences de Bohême 1901. – 20 str. ; 25 cm
BM3 91
Elementi matematičke fenomenologije / od Mihaila Petrovića. – Beograd : Srpska kraljevska akademija, 1911. – XIII, 774 str. : graf. prikazi ; 23 cm
PČ II 8/34
Fonctions implicites oscillantes / par Michel Petrovitch. – Cambridge : International congress of mathematicians, 1912. – 8 str. ; 26 cm
BM3 90
Sur des transcendantes entières généralisant les fonctions exponentielles et trigonométriques / Michel Petrovitch. – Paris : Gauthier-Villars, 1913.
P. o.: Comptes rendus hebdomadaires des séances de l’Académie des sciences ; t. 156.
BM3 38
Reduktivni analitički elementi / Mihailo Petrović. – Zagreb : JAZU, 1914.
P. o.: Rad Jugoslavenske akademije znanosti i umjetnosti ; 202, razred matematičko-prirodoslovni, 56.
BM 60
Rélation d’inégalité entre les moyennes arithmétiques et géometrique / Michel Petrovitch.– Paris : Gauthier-Villars, 1916.
P. o.: Comptes rendus hebdomadaires des séances de l’Académie des sciences ; t. 163.
BM3 41
Approximation des fonctions par les séries de puissances à coefficients commensurables / Michel Petrovitch.– Paris : Gauthier Villars, 1919.
P. o.: Bulletin des sciences mathématiques ; série 2, t. 43.
BM3 71
Problèmes arithmétiques sur les équations différentielles / par Michel Petrovitch.– Paris : [s.n.], 1924.
P. o.: Bulletin de la Société mathématique de France ; t. 52.
BM3 74
Sur l’intégrale du produit de deux fonctions / Michel Petrovitch. – Zagreb : JAZU, 1926.
P. o.: Izvješća o raspravama matematičko-prirodoslovnoga razreda ; sv. 21.
BM3 122
Séries de puissances représentant les fonctions inverses des intégrales abeliennes / Michel Petrovitch.– [s.l.] : [s. n.], 1927.
P. o.: Vestníku Král. Čes. Spol. Nauk. ; tr. 2.
BM3 89
Le procédé spectral de calcul numérique en astronomie / Michel Petrovitch.– Beograd : Imprimerie de l’Etat du Royaume de Yougoslavie, 1930.
P.o.: Publications de l’Observatoire astronomique de l’Université de Belgrade ; t. 3.
BM3 326
Kroz polarnu oblast / Mihailo Petrović. – Beograd : Srpska književna zadruga, 1932. – 248 str. : ilustr. ; 19 cm. – (Srpska književna zadruga ; kolo 35, br. 237)
К 1/237
Remarque sur les équations différentielles des fonctions elliptiques / par M. Petrovitch. – Zurich : Congrès international des mathématiciens Zurich, 1932. – 2 str. ; 25 cm
BM3 94
Fenomenološko preslikavanje / od Mih. Petrovića. – Beograd : Srpska kraljevska akademija, 1933. – VII, 236 str. ; 24 cm. – (Posebna izdanja / Srpska kraljevska akademija ; knj. 97. Prirodnjački i matematički spisi ; knj. 26) (Izdanje Zadužbine Jelisavete i Milana Jankovića ; 2)
PČ II 8/97
U carstvu gusara / Mihailo Petrović. – Beograd : Srpska književna zadruga, 1933. – 269 str. : ilustr. ; 19 cm. – (Poučnik Srpske književne zadruge ; knj. 7)
Ј 23/7
Opšti pojam preslikavanja / Mih. Petrović. – Beograd : [b. i.], 1935. – [15] str. ; 23 cm
P. o.: Srpski književni glasnik. ; knj. 44, br. 1.
BM 72
Sa okeanskim ribarima / Mihailo Petrović. – Beograd : Srpska književna zadruga, 1935. – 245 str. : ilustr. ; 19 cm. – (Savremenik Srpske književne zadruge ; kolo 5, knj. 9)
К 990/19
Jedan diferencijalni algoritam i njegove primene / od Mih. [Mihaila] Petrovića. – Beograd : Srpska kraljevska akademija, 1936. – 235 str. : graf. prikazi ; 23 cm. – (Posebna izdanja / Srpska kraljevska akademija ; knj. 111. Prirodnjački i matematički spisi ; knj. 30) (Izdanje Zadužbine Pere K. Jankovića ; 2)
PČ II 8/111
Po zabačenim ostrvima / Mihailo Petrović. – Beograd : Srpska književna zadruga, 1936. – 294 str. : ilustr. ; 20 cm. – (Poučnik Srpske književne zadruge ; knj. 9)
Ј 23/9
Eliptičke funkcije / od Mihaila Petrovića. – Beograd : Zadužbina Luke Ćelovića Trebinjca, 1937. – 128, III str. : graf. prikazi ; 23 cm. – (Predavanja na Beogradskom univerzitetu)
Ša 1030
Kvadratura kruga / Mih. Petrović. – Beograd : [b. i.], 1938. – 8 str. ; 24 cm
P.o.: Glasnik Jugoslovenskog profesorskog društva; knj. XVIII, sv.7.
BM 122
Remarques arithmetiques sur une équation différentielle du premier ordre / Michel Petrovitch. – buenos Aires : Unión matemática Argentina, 1938. – 5 str. ; 27 cm
BM3 140
Osetljiva mesta običnih i diferencijalnih jednačina / od Mih. Petrovića. – Beograd : [b. i.], 1939. – Str.: 8-11. ; 24 cm
P. o.: Matematički vesnik; br. 5-6.
BM 144
Roman jegulje / Mihailo Petrović. – Beograd : Srpska književna zadruga, 1940. – 187 str. : ilustr. ; 20 cm. – (Poučnik Srpske književne zadruge ; knj. 11)
PB11 1952/11
Đerdapski ribolovi u prošlosti i sadašnjosti / od Mihaila Petrovića. – Beograd : Srpska kraljevska akademija, 1941. – 120 str. : ilustr. ; 24 cm. – (Srpski etnografski zbornik / Srpska kraljevska akademija ; knj. 57. Drugo odeljenje ; knj. 25) (Izdanje zadužbine Mih. R. Radivojevića ; 1)
PČ II 10/57